Who We Are
Southwest Initiative Foundation is an independent community foundation supported by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who want to strengthen southwest Minnesota. Founded in 1986, we’ve become a trusted partner and a regional leader. We work hard to make southwest Minnesota a great place.
We believe that dignity and belonging are core human values and that all people deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are a human-centered organization and acknowledge that people have different needs and aspirations. We commit to removing barriers that prevent full participation in southwest Minnesota’s abundant opportunities. We use our resources to create opportunities for all people to thrive in the communities they call home.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
How We Work
We believe the future of southwest Minnesota is bright! And we aspire to achieve great things in our region by working together. Caring for the well-being of our amazing team is important to us. Physical, financial, and emotional health is essential for our staff to succeed and for the advancement of our mission. Our talent management focuses on the whole person, their family and how the foundation can help people find their passions and talents and align them with the mission of the organization.
Staff members are expected to be trustworthy, fair and respectful, and we’re accountable for our words and actions. We embrace courageous leadership required to live out our mission. We treat our colleagues, partners and communities with empathy and respect and approach our role in collaborative processes with humility, hospitality and heart.
We value learning and innovation. We continuously seek to expand both personal and organizational knowledge, and we are willing to take healthy risks in pursuit of big ideas.
And we’re fun! Whether it’s some work-related poetry, a story shared across cubicles or a bowl of hot soup on a cold Monday, we like to make each other smile.
Our Commitment
As part of our mission and vision, we strive to recruit, hire, develop, engage, support, and promote women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodiverse individuals, veterans, and others who have been historically marginalized. We are committed to equitable practices, total compensation, and an organizational culture that ensures all SWIF employees thrive.
Community Engagement Specialist
The Community Engagement Specialist strengthens the overall impact of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging through community-led partnerships, especially with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This specialist provides leadership, research and community engagement to create cohesion for Southwest Initiative Foundation’s emerging leadership and Grow Our Own efforts across our region. This leader is responsible for nurturing community opportunities that impact critical needs in southwest Minnesota by connecting to and working with southwest Minnesota residents, teams and organizations that span sectors. They serve as a liaison between the Foundation and community leaders, as well as the nonprofit community.
Apply for the Community Engagement Specialist role
Apply Online NowPresident/CEO
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President and CEO is responsible for leading the organization in a manner consistent with its mission, vision, and values, and doing so in a fiscally responsible and ethically sound manner.
The President/CEO will lead the overall strategic direction, external visibility and relationship development and stewardship, public relations and Board management for the organization.
Review the President/CEO Position Description.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation Board of Directors is working with Lyman Executive Search to fill this leadership role. Contact Libby Utter with questions at 612-670-9212 or [email protected]
